Just Keep Swimming
Credit: Zoggs.
Nigel Benton explores how swimming and aquatic activity can play a role in the nation’s Coronavirus recovery
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n icon of the Australian lifestyle, swimming and aquatic centre operations has been one of the many sectors of the economy impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic. With facilities closed down during initial Coronavirus lockdown, even including most of NSW’s ocean pools, elite athletes were unable to train, patrons were unable to swim and exercisers couldn’t stay fit in the water. As lockdown measures have eased at varying levels across different states many facilities are now operational again, and looking forward to being able to work at full capacity - if they aren’t already. However, the industry is not the same. Commercial facility managers and swim schools have had to continue business with reduced or halted income - albeit cushioned by JobKeeper - while local government has been excluded from that measure. The crisis has also seen an alliance of aquatic and recreation industry peak bodies, facility operators and program providers to share expertise and support, impacts on communities, businesses and employees across the industry. On the ground, Royal Life Saving Society - Australia has reported industry data, compiled with the input of operators and swim school industry, which shows 25% fall in swimming lesson enrolments across the country (excluding Victoria). Highlighting the value of the sector, in August, Swimming Australia released the findings of a community impact study which shows that swimming has a total economic and community impact of over $3.7 billion per annum for the nation, contributing a community health impact of $135 million per year and a $4.35 billion lifetime health contribution. The independent national study, funded with the support of Sport Australia, was completed by management consultants Sport Business Partners and Street Ryan, set out to better understand the broader community benefits of competitive and social swimming - across each of economic, social and health impacts. Advising that she believed sport and recreation was going to play a huge role in helping society transition post COVID-19, 42 Australasian Leisure Management Issue 141
outgoing Swimming Australia Chief Executive, Leigh Russell stated “sport plays a full-time role in society and is an integral part of community health, both from a physical health perspective but also in the mental health space. “The physical and mental health benefits of swimming are widely recognised. The findings of this report strongly reinforce that point and also illustrate that swimming provides very significant social and economic impacts as well. “COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on our Australia and as we look to try and come out the other side, it is becoming increasingly clear that sport will be a huge lever in re-building communities. With our participation levels, swimming has a big part to play. “Swimming can also play a critical role in addressing broader societal challenges such as rising obesity, an ageing population, and therapy and rehabilitation for those people living with chronic health conditions or disabilities.” The activity is also a life-saving skill that is integral to the social fabric of Australia, but it is also a sport for all and a sport for life with all ages, all abilities and all backgrounds participating. Highlighting that with five million participants across Australia, the report also found swimming teaches life skills such as discipline, hard work, determination, work ethic, time management and commitment, Russell added “swimming is Australia’s largest participation sport that provides an outlet for so many people and brings with it so many unique strengths. “We know it contributes to a broad range of social benefits to local communities, including community cohesion and greater social inclusions - for example we now know people who swim are nearly twice as likely to volunteer within the community than general sports participants.” The economic benefit to Australia is delivered through a range of factors including, competitive and recreational swimming events, expenditure on goods, services and employment by swimming clubs and associations, spectator attendance and swimming related travel and tourism.
